Tool for straightening electrotype-plates and leveling the printing faces thereof.



W. J. FRASER. TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING ELECTROTYPE PLATES AND LEVELING THE PRINTING FACES THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23,1915- 1,196,942, Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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W. J FRASER. TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING ELECTROTYPE PLATES AND LEVELING THE PRINTING FACES THEREOF. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 23, I9I5 1,1 96,942. Patented Sept. 5,1916.

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WILLIAM J. FRASER, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING ELECTROTYPE-PLATES AND LEVELING THE PRINTING- FACES THEREOF.

Application filed March 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. FRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Tools for Straightening Electrotype-Plates and Leveling the Printing-F aces Thereof; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of refer ence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in implements or tools used by printers in connection with electrotype plates; and, this invention, has reference, more particularly, to a novel tool for straightening out electrotype plates and leveling the printing faces of such plates.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed tool of the general character hereinafter set forth which is applied to and moved upon the back of an electrotype plate, and while being thus moved upon the back of the plate is being forcibly struck with a hammer, or similar tool, with a View of straightening out the electrotype plate, perfectly leveling its printing face, bringing out all defects and raising the low spots in the printing face without injury to' or battering the high spots, and keeping the electrotype plate perfectly flat, during the process of forcibly striking the tool while it is being moved upon and along the back of the electrotype plate.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention.

INith the objects of the present invention in view, the invention consists, primarily, in the novel finishing tool or implement for use Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 16,315.

upon electrotype plates hereinafter more fully set forth.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which:

Figure 1 is a View illustrating the manner of using the tool upon the back of an electrotype plate, said View showing in plan the usual finishers flat, the electrotype plate placed thereon, and the tool or implement embodying the principles of the present invention, said view also illustrating the manner of holding the tool in one hand while moving it along the back of the electrotype plate and striking the tool with a hammer held in the other hand. Fig. 2 is a side view of the devices represented in said Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a bottom view of the tool or implement embodying the principles of the present invention.

Similar characters of reference'are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

It is well-known in the art of casting electrotype plates that said plates are warped, and that the printing faces of such plates have defects known in the art as low spots and high spots which defects sometimes are slight and at other times are considerable. With the tool embodying the principles of this invention it has been found that these defects are entirely removed, and a level and perfect printing face can be easily and quickly produced without in the least damaging or battering the high spots or perfect portions of the printing face of the electrotype plate.

In the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the usual finishers flat,

which is a perfectlysquared metal plate, 2

indicates an electrotype plate, and 3 is the back of said plate.

The tool or implement, which embodies the principles of the present invention is indicated, generally, by the reference-numeral 4. In practice, this tool or implement 4 is made of steel, and comprises a main body 5, preferably of rectangular configuration,

although the said body may be of any other, suitable shape. Extending from the upper face of said body is a suitably formed post or projection, as 6, adapted to receive the blows of a hammer 7, or suitable tool, in the manner hereinafter more fully stated, and for the purposes hereinabove mentioned. Extending from the lower surface or base of said body 5 are a multiplicity of projections, as 8, said projections being arranged in rows, as shown in Fig. at of the drawings, and being slightly tapered, as at 9, and terminating in the blunt surface-portions 10.

Between the rows of said projections 8, either way, are formed'fiat depressions, as 11, of suitable depth and width to take up the metal surfaceportions of the electrotype plate, at the high spots in said plate, and thereby preventing any damage or battering of the printing face of the electrotype plate at the high spots located upon or in the printing face of the plate. While, in the accompanying drawing, I have shown the said body 5 of the tool or implement provided with a series of such projections, the rows one way containing eight projections, and the rows another way containing six projections, it will be understood, that a smaller or greater number of such projections may be employed; and, furthermore, the shapes of said projections, and the widths and depths of the depressions 11 may be slightly varied, if desired. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the eXact arrangements and shapes of the said projections and depressions, it being essential, however, that between the adjacent projections, either way, there must be provided intervening spaces to take up the metal surface-portions of the electrotype plate, at the high spots in said plate, thereby preventing any damage or battering of the printing face of the electrotype plate at such high spots located upon or in the printing face of the plate, as will be clearly evident.

The manner of using the tool or implement is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The operation or process of straightening an electrotype plate is as follows: The electrotype plate is placed with its printing face down upon the metal finishers flat 1.- If the electrotype plate is warped, the tool is first placed upon the back of the plate at its respective corner-portions and struck with the hammer upon the post or projection 6, until the corners of the electrotype plate lie flat upon the finishers flat, so that there will be no shake in the supported plate when the latter is tapped by hand, or otherwise, by the operator. This having been accomplished, the tool is now held in the one hand and variously moved over the back of the electrotype plate, being rapidly and forcibly struck, during such movements, with the hammer, or other suitable tool, substantially as illustrated in said Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When the entire back of the electrotype plate has thus been gone over, in a very short space of time the electrotype plate is straightened out, and all low spots raised, so that the printing face of the plate is made perfectly level, without injury to or battering of the high spots in the plate, and a perfect plate for printing will be the result.

I claim 1. A hand tool for straightening electrotype plates and leveling the printing faces of such plates, comprising a flat body, a plurality of projections projecting from the lower surface of said body, and formed with intervening spaces between said projections, and means connected with said body for the application of blows, whereby the tool is adapted to be employed so as to apply the straightening-out forces to the face of the plate at different points with varying degrees of intensity, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A hand tool for straightening electrotype plates and leveling the printing faces of such plates, comprising a flat body, a plurality of projections projecting from the lower surface of said body, and formed with intervening spaces between said projections, said projections having tapering end-portions, and blunt end-faces, and means connected with said body for the application of blows, whereby the tool is adapted to be employed so as to apply the straighteningout forces to the face of the plate at different points with varying degrees of intensity, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A hand tool for straightening electrotype plates and leveling the printing faces of such plates, comprising a flat body, a plurality of projections projecting from the lower surface of said body, and formed with intervening spaces between said projections, and a post extending from another face of said body, said post providing an anvil for the reception of blows thereon, whereby the tool is adapted to be employed so as to apply the straightening-out forces to the face of the plate at different points with varying degrees of intensity, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A hand tool for straightening electrotype plates and leveling the printing faces of such plates, comprising a flat body, a plurality of projections projecting from the lower surface of said body, and formed with intervening spaces between said projections, said projections having tapering end-portions, and blunt end-faces, and a post extending from another face of said body, said post providing an anvil for the reception of blows thereon, whereby the tool is adapted to be employed so as to apply the straightening-out forces to the face of the plate at different points With varying degrees of intensity, substantially as and for the pur- 10 poses set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of March, 1915.

WILLIAM J. FRASER.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

